"Those are my conditions. If you agree to them, I will permit Hugo Clay and his companions to board the Sunlight and the Moonlight."
"Gomez-san, you—!!"
The scene shifted back to the moments following the failure of the Security Force's initial assault.
After repelling the boarding party, Gomez had used the ship’s radio to contact the Sea-jack Countermeasure Unit led by Shepherd, laying out his terms.
Hugo was to be brought to the Sunlight, the ship where Gomez waited. He and Hugo would fight one-on-one. Hugo was permitted to bring his friends, but the Security Force was strictly forbidden from approaching. As long as these terms were met, the hijackers would not lay a hand on the hostages.
However, the agreement would be void the moment the duel between Hugo and Gomez commenced.
This meant that while Hugo faced Gomez, the others who boarded the ships would have to rescue the passengers held across the two vessels, all while avoiding interference from the rest of the culprit group.
Based on this report, the second-wave entry unit suspended its operation. They decided to let Hugo and the others board the ships first, waiting until preparations for the hostage rescue were in place before taking action.
Shepherd, acting as the representative, had to continue the dialogue with Gomez to hammer out the details for the new plan. Each word was a struggle for him, as he was forced to confront the reality that the man he had once idolized was now a criminal.
"Gomez-san, why...?! Why would a man like you do this?!"
"There is no need for such talk. Just fulfill your duty, Kruger."
Gomez’s dismissive, icy tone made Shepherd’s face twist in pain. After a brief, terse exchange, Shepherd turned to Hugo and gave him a silent nod.
"He's asking for me, then..."
Understanding the look, Hugo took the radio. A gruff, gravelly voice crackled from the other end.
"Are you Hugo Clay?"
"I am," Hugo replied, his voice level and respectful toward the man who had once been the island's hero.
In response to Hugo’s polite tone, Gomez allowed him to hear the voices of the children he held captive.
"Hugo! Can you hear me?!"
"Big Brother!!"
"Fee! Yui-chan...!"
Hugo caught his breath for a split second at the sound of his younger siblings. However, since their voices didn't sound desperate or in immediate danger, he realized Gomez was indeed keeping his word. He spoke calmly.
"I'm glad you're both safe. What's the situation on the ship?"
"The passengers are all okay. But the crew and the guards are hurt. Everyone's been gathered in one place—ah!"
"That’s enough. If you keep leaking our internal state, the others will get restless."
They had what they needed: confirmation of the hostages' safety and their general location. While Hugo processed this, Gomez snatched the radio back from Fee's hand.
"You're on the shore, aren't you? You can see the ships from there?"
"Yes, I can see them clearly."
Hugo looked out at the two excursion ships. Staring at the vessels emblazoned with the sun and moon crests, he pictured Gomez and the children waiting. He took a steady breath and asked, "Gomez-san, why are you doing this? What is your goal in hijacking these ships?"
"What does it matter? You should be worrying about your own condition. You'll be facing me head-on soon enough."
"That's exactly why I'm asking," Hugo countered, his eyes narrowing as he turned Gomez's logic back on him. "I need to know what my opponent is thinking to have done something like this. If I don't understand that... I won't be able to give this fight my all, even if I wanted to."
Hugo threw the words at the silent man on the other end.
"If you just wanted to test your strength, you didn't need to hijack a ship. You've taken hostages but haven't hurt them, and you're even making choices that put you at a disadvantage. Besides... you're a good person. I can tell by the way my brother sounded."
"...Just as the younger brother trusts the elder, the elder understands the younger perfectly. You truly are a fine pair of brothers."
"Don't dodge the question. Why did you do this?"
Between the reactions of Shepherd and Fee, and his own impression from this conversation, Hugo couldn't believe this man was acting without a deeper reason. He pressed for the truth, but Gomez remained distant.
"If you want to know that, come and see for yourself. I'll tell you before we fight. Though, don't expect me to go easy on you just because you lose your nerve."
"Understood."
Cold as the voice was, Gomez had promised an explanation. Hugo had to trust that for now. He handed the radio back to Shepherd, catching Gomez’s final warning.
"Hurry up. I’m one thing, but the other four are incredibly impatient. They’re listening to me for now, but if you take too long, they might decide to entertain themselves with the hostages."
The line went dead with a sharp click. As Shepherd stared at the silent radio, Marcos spoke up.
"Hugo, everything's ready. Are you set to board?"
"Yeah. Elena, thank you for coming to help."
"Fee and Yui are in trouble! Of course I'm helping!"
At the dock, the Seahorses Elena had brought were ready, harnessed to the boat they would pull. Since the Security Force couldn't approach, Hugo’s group would use the monsters Elena controlled to reach the ships. They would likely need that same speed to get the hostages out later.
Shepherd addressed the group one last time.
"I'm sorry to put such a dangerous burden on students. As soon as the situation shifts, we will move in to assist with the rescue. Until then... please, look after them."
"Leave it to us. And Shepherd-san, one more thing..."
Just before they cast off, Hugo whispered something to the officer. Shepherd nodded firmly. Hugo stepped onto the boat with his companions.
"There are five enemies in total, split between the two ships. I’ll take the lead on one of them. The rest of you handle the other Clear Plate possessors and get the hostages out."
"Got it. Be careful, Hugo."
As the boat cut through the water, Hugo focused on the excursion ship ahead. He would find the truth behind the fallen hero's actions—and he would win.